Migrants: Africa has 'exploded', UN intervention needed -Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, SEP 15 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday called for the intervention of the United Nations in response to the migratory pressure from Africa that is driving a significant increase in the arrival of migrants and refugees by sea to Italy.
    "We must not underestimate what is happening in Africa, we will also talk about it at the United Nations," said Tajani on the sidelines of the Confindustria annual assembly in Rome.
    "During our mission we absolutely must ask for a UN presence because the situation in Africa is not (just) explosive, it has already exploded," he added.
    "Measures are needed to stop migratory flows," continued Tajani.
    "We need to move forward with repatriations" of people who do not have the right to remain in Europe, he said. "Europe cannot pretend that nothing is happening and I am convinced that France will understand our problems," added Tajani, announcing missions to Paris and Berlin "as soon as I return from the United States".
    On Friday French President Emmanuel Macron said there is a "duty of European solidarity" on Lampedusa, adding that that "decisions will be taken with Italy". (ANSA).